In order to help understand this, there are many tests you can do that will not interfere with your breeding projects. They will teach you so much and well, its a great way to pass the time.

Set up a cage with a good sized box of soft silty sand, you know, what hogs normally live in. Allow the snake to use it. What will result if the sand is suitable is, your hogs will disappear. But that is not the test. Now, take a toad(hogs eat toads) and bury it in the sand. See if the hogs can find it. Then try a lizard, rodents eggs etc. You know the answer don't you? So that is really not a test, but this is, now try that with a cornsnake, kingsnake, ratsnake etc. Then test all over again by putting prey in burrows. Soon the results will paint a picture of what a hognose is and what it does. And how it can compete in a world with constant and varied competition. It will teach you why it swallows like it does. Simply put, your assumptions and comparisons were out of context with the animal.
prey type, all snakes have a range of prey type. They do not pick them for taste or color, they pick them to support their life. So, within that inherent range, they utilize what is common in their area and at that time. And yes, while they do consume rodents, both in captivity and in nature(more with western types) rodents, domestic mice, do not exist in any number, but many other types of rodents do, which include, kangaroo mice and rats. Grasshopper mice. etc. And like other prey items, hogs are not efficient at feeding on adults but are an efficient nest robber. And yes, all these rodents do nest in the ground, the domain of the hognose. Please do some research on these subjects. What you did was great for having very limited resources. Thanks and this is about learning and learning only. I am sure your a wonderful intelligent person.

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